Von Brochowski South North Foundation – A foundation for projects from African countries.
Since the beginning of 2017, a newly established foundation has supported artists from African countries, who, via their creations, make sustainable contributions to the development of their respective countries.
The foundation is named after its founder, Gabriele von Brochowski, who, as an ambassador for the European Community, worked for 24 years in Burkina Faso, Niger, Cameroon, Senegal, Ethiopia and the Ivory Coast. Her work focused on development, governance, anti-corruption, human rights and culture.
Every year, the Foundation awards the “Von Brochowski South North Prize” to an African artist who influences the strengthening of African civil society. The prize is endowed with 8000€ and is intended to contribute to the development or realisation of a (new) project. The prizewinner – for whom there is no restriction regarding artistic discipline – will be selected by a jury.
In addition, as of 2018 the „Von-Brochowski-South-North-Next Generation Prize“, has been awarded biennially and bears prize money of € 3000.
The Founder: Gabriele von Brochowski
Gabriele von Brochowski was Head of the European Community in Burkina Faso, Niger, Cameroon, Senegal, Ethiopia and Côte d' Ivoire from 1976 to 2000. Her work focused on development, government, anti-corruption, human rights and culture.
She has served on various supervisory boards, examples being the CulturesFrance (now Institut Français), the French counterpart to the Goethe-Institut; the Festival de la Francophonie in Limoges; and the Fondation Blachère, a foundation in the French city of Apt dedicated to the mediation of contemporary visual arts from African countries.
In 2016, she was one of the eight protagonists in the installation Nachlass by Rimini-Protokoll. Director Stefan Kaegi and his scenographer Dominic Huber explored in eight memory rooms what legacy and heritage mean today. The performance took place between 1st and 31st July 2017 at the Berliner Festspiele in Martin Gropius Bau.
The Foundation’s Purpose
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The foundation’s aim is to support artists from African countries whose work contributes to the development of their countries.
Prize Money
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The “Von-Brochowski-Süd-Nord-Preis” is endowed with 8,000 EUR, the “Von-Brochowski-Süd-Nord-Nachwuchspreis” with 3,000 EUR.
The prize money must be used for specific projects.
Criteria
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The Von Brochowski South North Prize is awarded to African artists who live and work in African countries and whose works focus on strengthening society and the sustainable development of the country.
It can also be awarded to a group of artists or an institution (independent and non-profit) and is open to all categories.
Applications
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Applications can be submitted to the Foundation upto 31st March of each year.
Non-profit status
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The foundation pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes and is entitled to issue donation receipts.
The donation account of the “Von-Brochowski-Süd-Nord-Stiftung” is:
IBAN: DE77 1012 0100 1700 0152 03
BIC: WELADED1WBB
Torsten Maß
Chair
1978 – 2000 member of the artistic directorate of the Berliner Festspiele: International Summer Festival, Berliner Festwochen, Berliner Theatertreffen, Berliner Lektionen and artistic director of the 750th anniversary celebration of the city of Berlin (West).
Curator of the festival Theater der Welt 2008 in Halle/Saale.
Founder and Chairman of the Alfred Kerr Foundation.
2002 – 2016 Head of General Project Funding at the German Federal Cultural Foundation in Halle/Saale.
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarded Torsten Maß the Federal Cross of Merit for his 10 years of commitment to the South-North-Foundation.
The award was presented by Sarah Wedl-Wilson, State Secretary for Culture and Social Cohesion, at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele on October 4, 2024.
Quotes from the laudators
“Together with Francesca Spinazzi, Torsten Maß directed the 2008 Theater der Welt festival in Halle. He invited African artists who fascinated the audience. This aroused the interest of the directorate of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, which established a focus on Africa. A fund was initially set up for one year, followed by TURN, a fund that lasted 12 successful years. I have met wonderful people in my long professional life – but apart from Torsten Maß, I don’t see anyone else who deserves this high honor for such selfless commitment. It is with gratitude that I turn to our Federal President, he has made a tailor-made decision.”
Gabriele von Brochowski, founder, Brussels / Gordes (F)
“When I think of Torsten Maß, one word always comes to mind: generosity. He is the epitome of this fullness of spirit, with a great charisma. He is a giver. Not the type of giver who expects something back immediately, but a giver to the world in order to enrich the world. This award is more than deserved and I would even dare to say that the Federal Cross of Merit gains even more value through his acceptance of this honor.”
Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Director and Chief Curator of the House of World Cultures and Artistic Advisor to the Von Brochowski South-North Foundation
“Your passion for working with artists and your love for them. Your enjoyment of events that can attract different audiences. That you have always used your knowledge to make it available to others. Your inimitable ability to wait out the storm of outrage in conflicts, to remain silent, to nod in a friendly manner and then to get back to what is actually at stake.”
Kirsten Haß, Director of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, Halle (Saale)
Francesca Spinazzi
Vice Chair
Theatre and dance curator at the Berliner Festspiele, at Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar and at Pina Bausch’s North Rhine-Westphalia Dance Festivals.
Dramaturgy of Claudio Abbado’s thematic programme cycles with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the fields of theatre, dance, literature, film and fine arts.
Peter Böhme
Vice Chair
Head of Protocol and ticket office of the Berliner Festspiele (including the Berlinale) for over 30 years.
Member of the board of directors of the Alfred Kerr Foundation together with Torsten Maß, which has awarded the Alfred Kerr Actors’ Prize to the most promising young actor of the Berlin Theatertreffen since 1991.